Abstract
Hispanic adolescents represent a growing population within the United States. As a result, national data has reported higher rates of substance use (i.e., alcohol, marijuana) among Hispanics compared to other minority populations, which presents a public health concern. The initiation of substance use generally occurs during adolescence and may develop into health and social problems in adulthood. Previous research has suggested that predictors such as individual self-esteem and peer norms play a pivotal role in adolescent development and the engagement in risky behaviors (i.e., substance use). Adolescents are influenced by what they perceive as the frequency of substance use among their peers and more importantly adolescents are also influenced by how they view themselves and their self-worth. In this chapter, we will outline prevalence rates of substance use among Hispanic adolescents. Then, we will examine the association between self-esteem and substance use and the impact of peer norms on substance use for these youth. We will provide recommendations for future research and prevention strategies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Self-Esteem |
| Subtitle of host publication | Perspectives, Influences and Improvement Strategies |
| Publisher | Nova Science Publisher Inc. |
| Pages | 107-124 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781536103120 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781536102949 |
| State | Published - 9 Nov 2016 |